Windmill-regulator



(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet I.

H. J. HAUFF. WINDMILL REGULATOR.

No. 499,992. Patented June 20, 1893.

IS Pzrens co. vnomrmow, WASHINGTON. a. c.,

(No Model.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. J. HAUFP. WINDMILL REGULATOR.

Patented June 20, 1893.

11 4" .J Invent-0r.

I H 6741"? [Eda/1f I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. HAUFF, or MAGNOLIA, IOWA.

WlNDMlLL-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,992, dated June 20, 1893. Application filed February 3, 1898; Serial No. 460,855. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRYJ. HAUFF, a citizcn of the United States, and a resident of Magnolia, Harrison county, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Windmill-Regulators, (Case 13;) and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to wind mills, and more especially to the regulators therefor; and the object of the same is to construct a device wherein the operating pawls will be caused to engage the. ratchet teeth on the drum suddenly when the float rises to a given point, instead of moving slowly into engagement therewith as heretofore.

A further object is to produce a sliding trigger for causing thesemovements of the pawls, and also to produce certain improvements in details to effect the better working of the whole, prevent sticking of parts, and reduce friction to a minimum.

To this end the invention consists in a wind mill regulator constructed substantially as set forth below and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wind mill and its tower, illustrating the tank in section and showing the connection between the float therein and the regulator proper. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the regulator proper, showing the pawls disengaged from the drum so that the wheel will rotateto fill the tank. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the pawls engaged with the drum and the latter turned so as just about to stop the motion of the wheelthe tank being nearly full. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the trigger, the arm for turning it in one direction, the spring for turning it in the opposite direction, the two pawls and their operating 1evers, and the rods connecting the trigger with the pawls. Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 of the sliding trigger which I prefer to use, showing it in full lines in position to engage the pawls with, audio dotted lines in position to free them from the teeth of the drum. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective details respectively of a slotted rod and, a slotted pawl which may be used if desired. Fig. 8 is an elevation similar to Fig. 3, showing how the parts can be inverted so that the connectin g wires may lead to the tank differently located than as shown in Fig. 1. Fig.9 is an enlarged elevation of the trigger shown in Figs. 2 and 3,.illustrating in dotted lines how the slot 33 may be made longer if desired.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter W designates the tower of the mill supporting a wind wheel M whose rotation causes the vertical reciprocation of the pump rod P whereby water is pumped up the pipep into and through a storage reservoir and may be drawn out at p, or it can be led through a branch pipe 3 directly into the tank T. The latter contains a float F connected bya rod f with a T-shaped lever L pivoted at its angleto a supportt on the tank. The wire fis connected with the lever L at the foot of its body, and two other wires f lead from the other ends of the lever to the regulator B, one of said wires being continued into a handle 0". From the drum of this regulator leads the regulator wire r which throws the blades of the wheel M into or out of the wind, as is common in devices of this character and needs no further explanation here.

Coming now to the present invention, the regulator R consists of a drum 1 journaled on a shaft 2 and having a portion of its periphery struck on a slight eccentric decreasing in diameter from a to b and provided with ratchet teeth 3, while the balance of its periphery is untoothed as at 3'. The regulator wire 1 passes around this drum or is attached to an arm 1 of the drum as shown, and leads thence to the wheel. Pivoted on the shaft 2 is a swinging lever 4 connected by a link 5 or any other suitable means with the pump rod P, this lever carrying the main pivoted pawl 6 capable of engaging the teeth 3. Pivoted between its ends to a support 7 is a rock 1ever 8, one end of which is connected bya link 9 with one of a number of holes in the swinging lever 4 and the other end of which carries a long pawl 10 capable of engaging the teeth 3 on the drum at a point below where the pawl 6 engages them. When the pump rod is reciprocated by the rotation of the wind wheel, the levers cause their pawls to move simultaneously and oppositely, and when the pawls are engaged with the teeth the drum is turned with an increasing force as the longer teeth at a come under the tip of the long pawl 10.

The shaft 2 is preferably mounted at its forward end in a bracket 11, and pivoted on a pin 12 in this bracket is an car 14 at about the center of an arm 13, to the opposite ends of which latter the wires f are connected as indicated in Fig.1 whereby the upper end of this arm will be moved inward by the rise and outward by the fall of the float F-the arrangement effecting these movements being that shown or any similar construction which will produce them.

23 is a trigger having a notched lower end 24 of a shape adapted to engage behind a heel 29 at the lower extremity of the bracket 11, and this triggerhas a slot 17 in its body fit-' ting loosely over said pin 12 under the head thereof; while a spring 25 is coiled around said head with one extremity fastened thereto and the other extremity passing into an eye 19 in said trigger whereby the lower end of the latter is normally borne to the left or against the heel 29.

21 is what I will call the tripping stud seated in the arm 13 about opposite its pivot 12 and in position to come under a lip 20- at the upper end of the trigger; while 22 is what I will call the freeing stud also seated in the arm 13 but'in a position to engage its edge at a point lower down. i

18 is a spring which may be used to connect the upper end of the arm 13 with an car 16 on the bracket 11, and the force of this spring assists the operation of the tripping stud 21-all as described below.

The main pawl 6 is of the ordinary construction, but. the long pawl 10 preferably has a forked tip 10, as seen in Fig. 4 which engages the edge of the drum.

32 and 32' are rods whose inner ends are out-turned and pass loosely through a slot33 in the trigger, and whose outer ends are pivoted respectively'to the main pawl 6 and the long pawl 10. In some cases it may be desirable to have the slot 33 in the trigger somewhat smaller than shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which event a looseness or lost motion will be produced by constructing the rods as seen in Fig. 6. That is to say, the rod is here composed of two members 0 and d each of which has a slot e in its body and a pin or rivet 9 also in its body and passing loosely through the slot in the other member; the outer ends of the two members having holes h by means of which they are pivotally connected as by rivets or bolts with the trigger and the pawls respectively. Or, as seen inFig. 7, the pawls may be slotted where the outer ends of the rods pass therethrough, and such outer ends will have a certain lost motion in the slots 11 as will be understood. I do not limit myself tothe precise location of the slots which permit this lost motion.

In Fig. 5 is shown the sliding trigger which I prefer to use and which corresponds with;

the devices illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The bracket 11 here carries a headed pin 12 and the trigger 23' has a slot 17 which slides on said..7.c pin under its head, a spring 25' connecting the pin with an eye 19" and holding this sliding trigger normally to the left. The left endof the trigger is bifurcated as shown at Q and slides under the head of a heel 29', which heel here forms the pivotfor the arm 13 which is operated in the same manner as is thearm 13. The freeing stud 22' bears against the left end of the trigger as the lower end of the arm moves inward and presses this trigger from its full lined position inward and thence upward until the notch 24 engages behind the heel 29 as seen in dotted lines, when the trigger is held in position to free the pawls from the drum. On. a return movement of the arm 13', the tripping stud 21 when it engages the upper arm of the bifurcation will push the sliding'trigger downward until its notch is disengaged from the heel, when the spring will throw the trigger suddenly to the left and will draw inward on the arms and pawls.

I have shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 how the long pawl 10 could be made somewhat shorter as at 10 and the rod 32'. would, of

course, still hold its fork in engagement with the teeth. It willalso be obvious that the rock lever 8 and link 9 could be omitted in either construction of the long pawl, and in that event a single-acting regulator would be produced-so called because on the rise of the pump rod the main pawl 6 will turn the drum but on its descent the drum will not turn as it is only retained by thepawl 10 at that time.

My experience has proven that single-acting regulators should be used only on wind mills having no gearing such as will cause the pump rod to reciprocate more slowly than the wind wheel rotates.

It is not essential that the parts shall be located nor constructed precisely as shown: in fact, the bracket ll may be secured to the base board below the drum and may project at its free end upwardly, in which event the entire mechanism would have to be inverted. i

This could be done, however, withoutjinterfez-ing with the successful operation of the device, since no parts thereof are moved by gravity. In Fig. 8 I have shown the bracket 11" as so arranged, and I have also shown the long pawl 10" aspivoted directly to this bracket instead of being operated bya 'rock lever. ger and the arm is the same except that the wires f here lead in the opposite direction from that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which may sometimes be desirable accordingly as the tank is located.

The wind wheel being rotated by the breeze and the pump rod P reeiprocated vertically, water is pumped up the pipe 19 and through The general construction of the trigthe storage reservoir (or across pipe 8). into" the tank T. When the tank has become sufficiently fullthe float F will have risen to the position shown in'Fig. 1 and the upper endof the lever L will have been moved inward Such inward movement of the lever turns the arm 13 on its pivot from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, and as it so turns the tripping stud 21 strikes under the lip 20 of the trigger and lifts the latter verticallyso that its notch 24 is disengaged from the heel 29, when the trigger is freed. Its spring 25 then causes it to turn to move its lower end to theleft, and the tips of the pawls are drawn suddenly into engagement with the teeth 3, after which the continuedreciprocation of the pump rod P will turn the drum 1 on its pivot 2, and the arm 1 will draw down on the regulator wire until the blades of the wheel M are thrown out of the wind in the usual manner and the wheel ceases to rotate. VVaterbeing now drawn from the tank, as by stock drinking therefrom, the float F falls and the arm 13 turns slowly back from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2: or the handle 0" can be drawn on to cause this movement. During such movement the freeing stud 22 strikes the edge of the trigger and moves its lower end slowly to the right, the lost motion (whether produced by the slot 33, slotted rods as in Fig. 6, or slotted pawls as in Fig. 7) permitting said lower end to move to some considerable extent before the tips of the pawls will be disengaged from the teeth 3. Immediately such disengagement has taken place, however, the notch 24: re-engages behind the heel 29 and the parts are held in the position shown in Fig. 2. Then the spring which actuates the regulator wire r draws on the same to throw the blades again into the wind and cause the wind wheel to resume its rotation, the drum turning back so that its arm 1' shall stand upward as seen in this figure. It will be noticed that the lost motion permits the trigger to be moved in either direction to a considerable extent before it operates the pawls, but when the latter are finally operated they are moved suddenly into or out of engagement with the teeth. Also, that when they are in engagement therewith, the lost motion permits each pawl as it is drawn downward to slide over the teeth while theother pawl is moving upward in full engagement with them. The operation of the sliding trigger is practically the same and has the same effect upon the pawls. As thelower end of the arm 13 is moved inward by the descent of the float, the freeing stud 22' slides the trigger to the right and then raises its bifurcated end so that the notch 24 engages behind the heel 29. On a return movement of the arm, nothing occurs until the tripping stud 21 bears down on the upper arm of' the bifurcationsufficiently to free the notch from the heel, and the spring 25' will then move the trigger suddenly to the left and draw both pawls into engagement with the teeth. I make no claim herein to the subject matter of an application filed by me November 10, 1892, Serial No. 451,540. In

that'case the outer ends of the rods were slotted and engaged lugs on the pawls, and atrip was used to hold the trigger in one position both of which features are not employed in the present case.

WVhat is claimed as new is 1. In a windmill regulator, the combination with a toothed drum connected with the regulator wire, a bracket secured to a base and projecting over the face of said drum, apivot pin through the drum and supported by the bracket, a swinging lever moved by the pump rod, and a main pawl pivoted to said lever and engaging the teeth of the drum; of asec ond pawl pivotally connected with said bracket and also engaging said teeth, a trigger, a tank, a float therein, connections substantially as described between the float and the trigger for causing the movements of the latter, and two connection rods, their outer ends being pivoted to said two pawls, and their inner ends connected with said trigger, the connections being such as to permit a slight lost motion, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a windmill regulator, the combination with a toothed drum connected with the regulator wire, a bracket secured to a base and projecting over the face of said drum, a pivot pin through the drum and supported by the bracket, a swinging lever moved by the pump rod, and a main pawl pivoted to said lever and engaging the teeth of the drum; of a second pawl its tip engaging said teeth, a rock lever pivoted between its ends to said bracket and having one end pivoted to said second pawl, a link pivotally connecting the other end of the rock lever with said swinging lever, a trigger, a tank, a float therein, connections substantially as described between the float and the trigger for causing the movements of the latter, and two connection rods,

their outer ends being pivoted to said two pawls, and their inner ends connected with said trigger, the connections being such as to permit a slight lost motion, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a windmill regulator, the combination with a toothed drum connected with the regulator wire, a lever moved by the pump rod, a main pawl pivoted to said lever and engaging the teeth of the drum, and a retaining pawl also engaging said teeth; of a bracket having a pin and a heel, a trigger having a slot moving over said pin and a bifurcation moving over said heel, one arm of the bifurcation having an internal notch, rods connecting said trigger with said pawls, a spring normally moving the trigger so as to draw on the rods, a tank, a float in the tank, mechanism substantially as described for sliding said 4. In a windmill regulator, the combination lator wire, a lever moved with a toothed drums connected with the regulator wire, a lever moved by the pump rod, a main pawl pivoted to said lever and engag ing the teeth'of the drum, and aretaining pawl also engaging said teeth; of a bracket having a pin and a heel, a trigger having a slot moving over said pin and a bifurcation moving over said heel, one arm of the bifurcation having an internal notch, rods connecting said trigger with said pawls, aspring normally moving the trigger so as to draw on the rods, a tank, a float in the tank, an arm pivoted on said heel and having a freeing stud adapted to slide the trigger longitudinally and then move it laterally to engage said notch with the heel, and the arm having a tripping stud adapted to move said trigger laterally to disengage said notch from the heel, and connections between said float and arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a windmill regulator, the combination with a toothed drum connected with the regulator wire, a lever moved by the pump rod, a

main pawl pivoted to said lever and engaging.

the teeth of the drum, and a retaining pawl also engaging said teeth; of a bracket having a heel, a trigger having a bifurcation moving over said heel, one arm of the bifurcation having an internal notch, rods connected with said pawls and having slots loosely connected with said trigger so as to permit a slight lost motion, a spring normallyholding the pawls engaged with the teeth, an arm pivoted on said heel and having a freeing stud adapted to slide the trigger longitudinally and then move it laterally to engage said notch with the heel, and the arm havinga tripping stud adapted to move said trigger laterally to disengage said notch from the heel, and connections between said float and arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a windmill regulator, the combination with atoothed drum connected with the reguby the pump rod, a pawl on the lever,

a sliding trigger, a rod eonnecting said trigger with the pawl, and a spring holding thepawl'normally engaged with the teeth of the drum; of an arm pivoted between its ends to a support, studs in said arm for causingthe movements of the trigger, a T-shapedlever pivoted at its angle to a support, wires connecting the ends of its head with the ends of said arm, a tank, a float therein, and a wire connecting said that with the base of the T-lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a windmill regulator thecombination with a bracket secured to a base and having an outwardly projecting heel at its free end, 'a pin connecting the base with the bracket near such heel, a toothed drum journaled on said pin and connected with the regulator wire, a swinging leverjournaled at one end on said pin and connected at the other end with the pump rod, a pawl on the lever engaging the drum, and a retaining pawl also engaging the drum; of a pivot pin. projecting from said bracket, a trigger having a slot sliding and turning on said pivot pin underits head and also having a notch adapted to engage said heel, connection rods between the trigger and said pawls, slots in said connections soar; to permit aslight lost motion, an eye in'the trigger, a spring connecting said eye with said pivot pin and bearing said notch normally against theheel, an arm pivoted between its 

